February3, 2010

Mr. Speaker, a very prominent, prestigious dignitary is visiting the United States from Canada this week--the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, Danny Williams is here. But there was no pomp and circumstance for Premier Williams. No red carpets, no dinners in his honor. You see, this isn't a state visit. It's a sneak visit. The Canadian Premier came to America to have heart surgery at an undisclosed hospital in an undisclosed location. According to officials, the premier couldn't have the heart surgery under Canada's government-run health care.

I wonder why? Williams has loudly proclaimed the benefits of Canadian socialized medicine. Was it the long waiting lines or the rationing that sent him to the United States? Maybe the Premier realized he couldn't receive competent treatment with Canadian state-controlled health care and came to America to, well--get well.

It seems the elites have one standard for the masses and another standard for themselves. As one writer put it, "State-controlled access for thee, but not for me." Government-run health care is unhealthy for Canadian Premiers and Americans as well.